Soli Deo Gloria

“The Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them. They were glad when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.” Mark 14:10-11

The narrative of Mary’s devotion to Christ (Mark 14:3-9) serves as an amazing contrast between the two bookends of Judas’ betrayal. The religious leaders wanted desperately to find a way to get to Christ before the Passover in order to avoid the crowds. Like a black and white contrast to Mary, Judas now comes on the scene.

Could it be that Judas has now come to the realization that Christ is not the political messiah he has hoped for? Scripture doesn’t tell us and we’d only be speculating what was going through his mind. However, what Scripture does tell us is that the actions of Judas were planned before time began and prophesied all throughout Scripture. While never excusing the horrific sin of Judas, Scripture makes it clear that the actions of this son of perdition were a fulfillment of Holy Scripture. (John 17:12)

When I read these two verses of Scripture concerning Judas there is a word here that causes me to think of another early event of the life of Jesus. Recall the temptations of Christ in the wilderness by Satan. Three times Satan tempted Christ with no success. What is striking is how Luke records that event. Luke tells us that Satan left Christ after the temptation until an ‘opportune time’. (Luke 4:13) When we read the other gospel accounts we learn that Satan entered into Judas inciting him to begin his betrayal. There is no doubt too that we see the sin of Judas’ greed and worldliness being used by Satan. While this truth should definitely cause us to realize that Satan is a powerful adversary it should also cause us to marvel at the absolute wisdom and sovereignty of our great God who will use the most horrific event in all of time to become the greatest and magnificent saving event. God, allowing Satan and Judas to spark the arrest and death of Christ, is by His sovereign hand and unsearchable wisdom orchestrating the greatest good which was planned before time began. It’s when we have a right and solid understanding of who our great God is in light of all of Scripture that we can truly grasp and hold fast to the amazing truth Paul pens that we are to be anxious for nothing. (Philippians 4:6-8) Believers truly can be anxious for nothing as we set our minds of things above and on the cross of Jesus Christ knowing truly that all things work for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) May we be in awe of the great truth that “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

Judas is an interesting study. With the watering down of the gospel in most of the American church today there is little to no teaching on the reality of apostasy. Judas would actually be a great example of someone who can be around Christ, His teachings and His people and yet be an enemy of Christ the entire time. In fact, it’s striking that in Acts when the disciples seek to replace the office of Judas with another that they make it a point to say that Judas shared in the ministry. (Acts 1:17) We should allow this passage to cause us to test ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5) The life of Judas should also help us to understand the reality of real apostasy that the writer of Hebrews warns about. (Hebrews 6:4)

It is dangerously possible to grow up in the church and be baptized, sit under excellent teaching and preaching, partake of the sacraments and even be active in ministry and still be as lost as Judas. You see, participating in the motions of church does not save us. Sadly, there are many who may call themselves Christians in the same way Judas would have openly called himself a disciple of Christ but like Judas, are lost and outside of the saving faith needed to secure salvation. Like Judas, there are many who profess Christ only to have the benefits of Christ and not Christ Himself. This is a dangerous position!

This is where Mary makes an excellent contrast to Judas and why I believe Mark puts these two narratives back to back. Mary had true saving faith. We need to remember that while faith is a requirement for salvation, faith is not what actually saves us. Faith is a gift of grace from God that is the instrument that points us to that which saves us – the Person and work of Jesus Christ! Mary’s faith and love was in Christ Himself. Judas did not have this saving faith which is solemnly illustrated by his love for the world and how his life comes to an end.

What or who are you putting your trust in? Just to be called a Christian means absolutely nothing unless God is the One who has caused you to be born again and sealed you with His Name in Christ by His Holy Spirit. Follow the lead of Mary and come to the end of yourself putting your faith and trust in Christ alone.

Soli Deo Gloria

“The images or pictures of God are an abomination and utterly unlawful, because they do debase God, and may be the cause of idolatrous worship.  It is not lawful to have pictures of Jesus Christ, because his divine nature cannot be pictured at all, and because his body, as it is now glorified, cannot be pictured as it is; and because, if it do not stir up devotion, it is in vain; if it do stir up devotion, it is a worshipping by an image or picture, and so a palpable breach of the second commandment.” (Thomas Vincent, An Explanation of the Assembly’s Shorter Catechism (Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, n.d.) 162.)

“Perhaps more people living today have derived their ideas of Jesus Christ from these typically ‘liberal’ pictures of Jesus than have derived their ideas of Jesus from the Bible itself. Such people inevitably think of Jesus as a human person, rather than thinking of him according to the biblical teaching as a divine person with a human nature. The inevitable effect of the popular acceptance of pictures of Jesus is to overemphasize his humanity and to forget or neglect his deity (which of course no picture can portray).” (Johannes G. Vos, The Westminster Larger Catechism: A Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 2002), 292.)

When we read books of the Bible we need to always remember that absolutely everything in Scripture is about Christ. Absolutely everything. The short book of Philemon is no exception. Many over the years have used this book to focus on slavery – both in its defense and its abolition. However, we must note here that this small epistle penned by Paul while imprisoned has its focus on forgiveness. Namely, that in Christ a believer now not only has the ability but the desire to be completely forgiving because they have been completely forgiven themselves. It truly illustrates the changed life of a believer and the importance of forgiveness. Did not our Lord remind us that if we are not willing to forgive others that our Father in heaven will not forgive us? (Matthew 6:15) Does this not teach us that to forgive and the desire to forgive no matter the offense is a true mark of a believer. (Matthew 18:21-35) It was Thomas Watson, the great Puritan, who wrote, “We need not climb up into heaven to see whether our sins are forgiven. Let us look into our hearts and see if we can forgive others. If we can, we need not doubt that God has forgiven us.” Oh how true this is and we cannot miss how Scripture makes this point clear.

This is exactly what we see in the book of Philemon. The story behind the book is like a small mini movie. Paul is writing to one of his converts named Philemon and his wife and son who apparently oversee a house church. They had a slave named Onesimus who we gather must have decided to run away and in the process apparently stole money or items from Philemon. Onesimus in his desire to hide ran to Rome, a densely populated city in the hopes of staying in the shadows. It was there in Rome that this runaway came into contact with Paul and became a believer. Oh how the grace of God in Christ is freely available to all! This is why we see such loving words of relational affection used by Paul in this letter for he calls both Philemon and Onesimus his children and brothers. Children in the sense that it was through his gospel proclamation that they became believers and through regeneration and adoption into the kingdom they are truly brothers forever in Christ. What a glorious truth.

With that brief background in place let us take a moment to review the glorious words of Holy Scripture concerning not necessarily Philemon or Onesimus but Christ and His love, grace and forgiveness to His elect. A truth that should cause us to pause often in awe of what is truly amazing grace.

Paul opens his letter addressing Philemon and his family. The early church met in houses and followed the Biblical guidelines for elders. It is likely that Philemon was an elder in the house church and his son, Archippus was also apparently a leader in the church. (Col. 4:17)

The opening verses of this this epistle (verses 3-7) give glorious insight into the life of Philemon. He, and all the elect, can rejoice in knowing that grace and peace with God are permanently and fully made available through Christ. Not only is there peace with the wrath of God propitiated in Christ in His death and resurrection, but we also see from these verses that there always is a changed life with regeneration. Paul thanks God in hearing about the love and faith Philemon has for Christ and to other believers. This love to God and the brethren is one of the truest marks of true salvation. Does not John in his first epistle speak over and over again of true salvation being love for the brethren? (1 John 2:10-11; 3:10; 3:14; 3:23; 4:7; 4:11; 4:16; 4:20) This is exactly what Paul is so excited about as he continues to hear about Philemon’s changed life exemplified by his great and continuing love for God and the brethren. Paul experiences joy and comfort in knowing such love and faith exists in one of his converts. (v. 7) Should we not also share in that same joy when we see others growing in holiness and growing more into the image of Jesus Christ? Is not a growing faith and love for the brethren a true mark of regeneration? We see here exactly what James teaches in his epistle that faith without works is dead. (James 2:26) True saving faith produces a changed life and this is what Paul was hearing and likely seeing in the life of one of those he had the joy of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with.

Now we move to the issue at hand in this letter – the importance of forgiveness in the life of a believer. Paul writes in verses 8-16 that he could charge Philemon to do what is right but instead he wants Philemon to do what he knows he should do given he is a new creation in Christ. This is how Paul handles this letter. Paul writes to appeal to Philemon that just in the same way the he is a new creation his once worthless runaway slave has now also been transformed by the power of the Gospel. (Rom. 1:16) Paul, referring to Onesimus as his child, is now reminding Philemon that through the gospel he is now a true child of God and has been perfectly and permanently adopted into the kingdom through the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We even see the glorious sovereignty of God in all things in this letter. Notice a fascinating and powerful statement in verse 15. Paul writes that perhaps it was for his salvation that God even worked through the sin of this slave. Do not all things work for good and is not God sovereign over all things? Oh to share with Paul in his letter to the Romans when he writes, “…oh the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Rom. 11:33) Written in context concerning God’s sovereignty over the Jews it no doubt also applies to God’s amazing and sovereign control over all things and His ability to turn something meant for evil for good. (Gen. 50:20)

However, there is still something to be done. Onesimus has wronged his master by running away and stealing from him and Paul rightly knows that he needs to do what is right and return to his master and ask for forgiveness and make reparations as best he can. So Paul sends his letter with Onesimus to return to Philemon and in true Christian love even tells him that if his new brother in Christ has wronged him financially that Paul will foot the bill. I believe he makes this statement to cause Philemon and us to meditate on the amazing debt we could never pay to God and yet God in Christ paid the infinite debt we could not pay. Paul even reminds Philemon that it was through Paul that he heard the gospel as well. It is a reminder that all of our salvation is outside of ourselves – that salvation is completely and totally of God. (Jonah 2:9)

This is a call and reminder to us all of grace and perfect forgiveness in Christ. This entire letter, like all of Scripture, is completely about Christ and a reminder to we who have been saved of His infinite mercy, love, grace and forgiveness. It is also a reminder to we who are new creations in Christ that we should also be completely forgiving no matter the cost or offense against us. If our desire as Christians is to be made more like Christ (as it should be) then our desire should also be to forgive as God has forgiven us in Christ. May this epistle also remind us that the gospel not only is the power of God to save but also to transform. As August Toplady wrote in his great hymn Rock of Ages, the cross has a double cure! Both Philemon and Onesimus are now not only brothers in Christ but also new creations with new hearts and new desires that no longer seek to please self but seek to please and be obedient to Christ. It is for this reason that Paul has all confidence that Philemon would do what is right in forgiving Onesimus since he is equally confidence that brother Philemon is a true believer and one led by the Holy Spirit to the glory of God in Christ!

Soli Deo Gloria

“And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.” But others were saying, “He is Elijah.” And others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!” For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, “ It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so; for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him. A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee; and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about this, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb.” Mark 6:14-29

We move to a scene that illustrates the terrible destructive power of sin. The name Herod is synonymous with being an enemy of the gospel. This Herod is the son of Herod the Great who went on a killing rampage of male children in the early gospel accounts. Herod the Great’s grandson is the one who held such great pride and arrogance that he was struck dead by an angel of the Lord. This Herod in Mark is described to us as one who is captivated by sexual sin. Mark gives us background information on John the Baptist’s bold stance against Herod because he had married the wife of his brother. We learn of John’s boldness to proclaim repentance and Herod just simply could not handle that proclamation. He would rather have his sin. We learn that Herod had John imprisoned but yet still had some fear of John knowing that he was a prophet. However, Mark’s account tell us that Herod simply enjoyed being entertained by John and he simply would not heed the words of God to come to repentance. We later see this same Herod also seek to be entertained by Christ with such a hardened heart that Christ would not return a single word. God had nothing to say to Herod!

We also see here that when Herod heard about Jesus his conscience was bearing witness against him since Herod’s first response was that he believed John the Baptist had been resurrected. Oh to see the danger of hanging on to sin! Sinclair Ferguson sums this account up well in saying, “the lesson is crystal clear – unless we silence sin, sin will silence conscience. Unless we heed God’s Word, the day may come when we despise God’s Son – and then God will have nothing more to say to us.” Oh to see the danger of sin and how it can absolutely bring a person to utter ruin and destruction. As one great theologian puts it, “be killing sin or sin will be killing you.”

This is exactly what happens to Herod. Herodias and her daughter Salome knew good and well the sexual sin of Herod and used that sin to further trap him. Put before his wicked friends in the midst of a drunken orgy he caves in to his own sinful lusts and pride and murders the very prophet who has heralded the call to repentance. Sadly, the very One John heralded will also stand before Herod while he and his cohorts mock the King of kings. Yet, as Ferguson put it God will not have anything to say to Him. What a terrible and tragic position. Do not be like Herod. Embrace and run to the very One who can forgive your sins and relieve your conscience before God. Run to Christ the Lord! He is mighty to save!

Soli Deo Gloria!

“For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,” Romans 8:5-6

In the greek, the verb for “set their minds” in this verse means “to think, to give careful consideration to, careful thought, to think about someone”.

What are you obsessed with? That which permeates the mind and the thought life is our obsession. With all this talk in the world of sex, Obama, healthcare, the news, football games, television shows, movies, facebook, twitter, the internet, cars, food, etc. let me give you a stark and sobering thought to ponder today. If you spend more time thinking about these things than God it is a dangerous warning sign that may signal your not being a true Christian. You may fool yourself in thinking you are but remember that it is impossible to serve both God and mammon. There is no middle ground. What (or who) are you truly in love with? Either we are completely sold out to God or not – and as Scripture clearly teaches that one way to know is evidenced by our thought life. (Rom. 8:5-6)

Inventory your thought life just since you got up this morning. Have you thought more about something other than God? What is your thought life consumed with? Is it consumed with your job, your spouse, your children or maybe even your ministry? You see, even if your mind if consumed with good or harmless things if the absolute focus and majority of your thought life is not God in Christ then you need to examine yourself! Having high thoughts of God surely does not save us but a change in our thinking is a direct result of salvation.

Do you make time in your mind for Christ only on the Lord’s Day and then the other six days consume your thoughts on things of the earth and not things in heaven? (Col. 3:2) Do you live your life as a practical atheist claiming to know God but living your life as if He did not exist? What do you think of most? It is a humbling and sobering thing to survey our thought life – which amounts to that which we love – and see where the Creator of all things stacks up?

I believe that this is exactly what the church in Ephesus dealt with in Revelation. You see, this church talked the talk and in a sense walked a walk in their deep, orthodox theology but they had lost their first love. They had lost their love and zeal for Christ. (Rev. 2:4) They thought much on heresies, debates and even their ministries but there was no room left in their thought life and in their minds for Christ. They had quite frankly let Christ get out of their minds. Christ warned them to repent and if they did not repent it would be evidence that they had permanently taken Christ out of their minds because He truly was never there to begin with! (Rev. 2:5)

I write these things not to try and scare the reader but to bring attention to what the full counsel of God’s word tells us. True salvation results not only in the penalty for our sins being paid for but also the regeneration of the dead soul to one that is spiritual alive and one that will yearn for Christ. The regenerated person is one who hates what he once loved and now loves what he once hated. It is a sad reminder of the state of the church today when the majority of professing believers talk and think more about worldly things than they do Christ. Not long ago Christian fellowship was getting together to talk about Christ and the things of Christ, but sadly today Christian fellowship amounts to getting together to watch a football game or go whitewater rafting. Don’t get me wrong – there is nothing wrong with coming together for fun but true, biblical fellowship is coming together to rejoice in and talk about the greatest thing on our mind – Christ! Who (or what) are you in love with? Our minds and thought life are the barometer for knowing for sure! Let us remember that Christ should be in our minds constantly and every thought made captive to Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5) Recall too that Scripture tells us to “be transformed by the renewing of our minds.” (Romans 12:2) It is a call to remember that as a believer our minds have been renewed through regeneration and we are to tend to it by guarding our thought life and implanting the word of God in the mind. This is truly a “magnificent obsession”!

Phil. 4:8  ”Finally, brethren,  whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is  lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise,  dwell on these things.”

Soli Deo Gloria!

I’ve been meditating much lately on the life of Christ – specifically how settled and perfect the gospel narratives of Christ’s life are. From the moment our Savior was born incarnate every moment of His life was sure. Nothing was in question – there was never a moment in reading any of the narratives that there might be an inkling of a moment of even the hint of failure. As I think about the life of Christ time and time again the leaders wanted to trap Him in a saying and to kill Him and time and time again with absolute surety the gospels tell us that He slipped out of their reach “because His time had not yet come”. There was no touching the King of kings.

It was not until Christ willingly gave up His life into the hands of wicked men that we see His time coming and even then they are able to do nothing more to Him than was was predetermined by God before time began. There was also absolutely nothing coming in the way of His atoning, sacrificial death. What God promised before the foundation of the world and what He promised to Adam and Eve, to Abraham, to Moses and all the great prophets came to absolute perfection without even a hint of something possibly causing the plan to fail.

Now we come to the promise of Christ’s second advent. We come to scenes of comfort even in martyrdom knowing that the souls of those in Christ who die are safe and secure in Him. And yes, a promise just as secure as the very promise of His atoning death and resurrection. We also see later on in Revelation how the world led by Satan tried with all its might to destroy the very Prince of Peace – the very King of kings and in one small verse we read that Christ slaughters the very world that is trying so desperately to kill the Lamb and His bride. (Rev. 17:14)

There is no shifting sand in Christ. He truly is the Rock that does not move, nor sleep nor shake. The world is constantly in flux – turning here and there in desperate attempts to satisfy the flesh and the lusts of the mind and heart. The soul happy in Christ is satisfied with His very presence. He is everything. Just like the feeding of the multitudes who were satisfied the very Bread from heaven is our true sustenance and food that fully satisfies and causes us to see the world as it is – a passing vanity fair able to give nothing but pain, disappointment and death.

I am amazed at the absolute perfection and surety of God in Christ. May we cling to these promises setting our minds on things above and not on things of the earth. May we rejoice in knowing that our God does not change (Malachi 3:6) and that He is faithful and true and everything He says will take place in His perfect timing. This allows us to truly understand the importance of being anxious for nothing does it not? (Philippians 4:6) What a joy to have our eyes opened to these glorious truths and to give all glory to God for shining in our hearts the knowledge of His glory in the face of His precious Son by the power of the Holy Spirit of truth and grace. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

Soli Deo Gloria

Paul Washer has written a study book entitled “The One True God” which I have found to be an excellent study and one that causes the student to dig deep into Scripture. It’s one of those great interactive books that teaches but teaches only from God’s Word. In order to read this book you must have the Bible front and center. (What a concept!)

Brother Washer has released another great book following the same format entitled “Truth About Man” and it’s available as a free download from his web site here. Don’t miss out on this great study!

In my study of Scripture I am always in awe of the description of the throne room of God. The very place He is said to sit on His throne in all His glory and majesty. The Old Testament book of Ezekiel and the New Testament book of Revelation both describe God on His throne in such amazing ways all the while never giving us enough detail to be able to break the second commandment and make a graven image.

Scripture gives us these stunning images of our Lord on His throne reigning and ruling in His sovereign and majestic power. We definitely get the sense that the vision is beyond human description – unfathomable. These glorious images Scripture gives us should cause us to pause and remember who our God is – the God of all creation – the one and only true God. He is above all and Creator of all. He is sovereign, He is Lord, He is King!

The imagery that the Holy Spirit gives us in the Word of God is stunning…

Ezekiel 1:26 Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. 27 Then I noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward something  like  glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. 28 As the appearance of the  rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the  glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.

Revelation 4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. 3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. 5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; 6 and before the throne there was something like a  sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.

One thing that has always struck me is the constant worship God receives. At this very moment as I type this article and as you are reading it there is constant worship at the throne of God directed towards the triune God – the Father, Son (the Lamb who was worthy to be slain) and the Holy Spirit. There at the throne of God the four living creatures or seraphim incessantly sing out the trihagion, the three-fold song of holiness to our Great God…

Isaiah 6:1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, “ Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” 4 And the  foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.

Scripture goes on to teach us that all the angels join in worship to the Lion and the Lamb as well as the 24 elders on their thrones. The throne room of God is an ear piercing non-stop jubilation of praise and honor to the One who deserves nothing but praise, honor and glory. He alone is worthy of praise, for as Revelation clearly tells us Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was worthy to be slain, is surrounded by constant singing:

Rev. 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and  purchased for God with Your blood men from  every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

So in heaven at the very throne of God there is constant sound – the constant sound of praise, adoration that has the three fold trihagion setting the tempo as sung by an angelic order that Ezekiel nor John could describe with fullness using human words for the very vision was overwhelming and beyond description – just as our Great God is.

But there is a moment in time when something will happen that has never happened and never will happen after it. There will be a moment in time when heaven will have the sound of silence. There will be a moment in time when the four living creatures will close their mouths in awe. There will be a time when the 24 elders will be silent. There will be a time when all of the angels – all of them, the innumerable army of angels will not utter a sound. The book of Revelation paints this amazing picture for us in the beginning of chapter 8:

Rev. 8:1 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

You see God has been patient, desiring that no one perish but that all come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) Even in His judgments that are summed up in the breaking of the first through the 6th seals we see mercy as opportunity to repent and turn to Him. But as the Lamb of God breaks that final seal it is done. Time is up. The sun, moon and stars fall from the sky no longer to meter the days and define time. All of heaven and all created order stops what they are doing and watches in awe as God symbolically stands up from His throne to render final judgment. The cries of the martyred souls no longer cry out (Rev. 6:9-10) – for they also see that the time has come. The time only the Father knows has come as the number of their fellow servants who would join their martyrdom was complete. (Rev. 6:10)

All of heaven is silent in absolute awe in anticipation of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Scripture teaches us that all of the angels of heaven will appear with Christ in the sky. Picture this: all of the angels, all myriads and myriads of them are silently arraying themselves while focused in silent awe of the Lamb who was worthy to be slain in preparation for the sky to split apart to display the Lord of lords in the glory of the Father. Those in Christ will be caught up in the air to meet Him while His wrath, the wrath of the Lamb (Rev. 6:16), will be poured out on all who are not found in Him.

As Revelation teaches us, there is a moment of about one-half and hour where heaven is absolutely silent. The Creator of All, the Almighty Judge has stood to righteously deliver judgment upon the earth. Scripture teaches us that angels look intently at the church of Jesus Christ and peer deeply at the unsearchable riches of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now they see the culmination of all that the Lion and the Lamb has ushered in and bought through His obedience to the Father. Jesus Christ has saved His elect, has purchased a kingdom of priests for Himself who will reign upon the earth. Satan and his demons and all his children – all of the ungodly who have turned from God and denied Him are thrown into the lake of fire along with death itself. Let us never, ever forget that Christ experienced that very hell on the cross as He stood condemned in the place of sinners – His elect. Oh our gracious and merciful Lord! Our great God then ushers in a new heaven and a new earth – a restoration of Eden – when all “was good”. The bride of Christ will spend eternity with Him and will “see His face” (Rev. 22:4) in the new earth. This my friends is a true description of “heaven”.

While Revelation can be a challenging book to interpret, the overall theme and message is plain. God has won. It is that simple. God is on His throne and He will be glorified.  He is equally glorified by the saints as well as those who will spend eternity in hell. The idea of their being silence is heaven is actually one of the loudest scenes Scripture portrays for us.

May we never forget who our God is. May we learn from the throne room of heaven in our own worship here on earth and remember that the Lion and the Lamb is our focus of worship just as it is in the heavenly throne. Do not miss that Christ is described as the Lamb who is slain – heaven never leaves the cross and nor should the Church! Let this silence described in Scripture bring you comfort as a Christian knowing that judgment has been passed on your Substitute and you are safe and secure in Him. However, let this silence bring about terror and conviction to anyone who is outside of the love of Christ. Today is the day of salvation for when the silence is heard it is too late.

The cross of Jesus Christ exemplifies in absolute beauty beyond description both the perfect love and perfect justice of God. Yes, God is love but He is also a God of perfect justice. We see both of those attributes displayed simultaneously at Calvary. The wrath of God abides on all those who are outside of Christ as their Lord and Savior – for the Lamb of God took our place and satisfied the requirements of the Law and the wrath we deserve. He receives all of the glory and rightly so for He is God!

Soli Deo Gloria!